Railroad crossing signal



June 2, 1936. F. H. CARROLL RAILROAD CROSSING SIGNAL 2 Sheets-Sheet l L. A L JJm ll,

I mum.

Original Filed June 25, 1954 Inventor f1 llomey June 2, 19%. F H, ARROLL 2,042,879

' RAILROAD CROSSING SIGNAL Original Filed June 25, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N Inve nior Patented June 2, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application June 25, 1934, Serial No. 732,339 Renewed March 10, 1936 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in railroad crossing signals of the pneumatic type and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts through the medium or which the signal will be operated by the wheels of a passing train.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a pneumatic railroad crossing signal including a pair of air pumps, together with a novel construction of wheel actuated lever for operating said pumps.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a railroad crossing signal of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in operation, compact and which may be manufactured and installed at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:-

Figure 1 is a view in top plan of a railroad crossing signal constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the pump mechanism.

Figure 3 is a view in vertical transverse section, taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a pair of pumps which are designated generally by the reference numeral I and which are mounted on the sides of a pair of ties 2 through the medium of brackets 3. Each pump I includes a vertical cylinder 4 in which a piston 5 is mounted for reciprocation. Conduits 6 connect the cylinders 4 with a siren l which, of course, is preferably located closely adjacent the railroad crossing. Check valves 8 are provided in the conduits 6 adjacent the pumps I.

The pumps I are operated through the medium of a rockable wheel actuated lever which is designated generally by the reference numeral 9 and which is pivotally mounted on a tie 2 between the pumps I, as best seen in Figure 2 of the drawings. The lever 9 includes a horizontal bar portion ID, the end portions of which are operatively connected to the pistons 5 by rods I I. Depending from the bar I0 is a web I2 which is journaled on a pin I3 in a bracket I4 which is anchored, as at I5, in position on the tie. As illustrated to advantage in Figure 3 of the drawings, the portion of the web I2 through which the pin I3 passes is thickened, as at I6, to assure a long wearing bearing.

The lever 9 further includes a wheel engaging 10 flange I! which rises from the inner longitudinal edge of the bar I 0 closely adjacent the ball of the rail I B. The end portions of the flange I 1 curve downwardly and said flange is provided with an intermediate recess I8 to facilitate the passage of the train wheels thereover from either direction.

It is believed that the operation of the invention will be readily apparent. As the train wheels pass over the lever 9 said lever is rocked in a manner to actuate the pumps I which, in turn, force a pulsating stream of air under pressure through the conduits 6 to the siren I.

It is believed that the many advantages of a pneumatic railroad crossing signal constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combi- 0 nation and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is2- A railroad crossing signal of the class described comprising, in combination, a substantially U-shaped bracket mounted on top of one of the ties of the railroad, brackets mounted on the opposed sides of adjacent ties, pumps mounted on the second named brackets, a signal device operatively connected to said pumps, a pin mounted horizontally in the first named bracket, and a Wheel actuated lever for actuating the pumps, said lever including a horizontal bar operatively connected, at its ends, to the pumps, a web depending from said bar into the first named bracket and including a thickened portion journalled on the pin for rockably mounting the lever on said first named bracket, and a wheel engaging flange rising from one of the longitudinal edges of the bar, said flange having an intermediate depression therein.

FRED H. CARROLL. 

